Recent Issue Summaries

In This Issue: July/August 2017

Topics of interest in the July/August 2017 issue of The Journal of HazMat Transportation.

REPORT FOR THE 51TH SESSION OF THE UN SCETDGFrom July 3 – 7, 2017, the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (SCETDG) held its 51st session in Geneva, Switzerland. The SCETDG considered 28 working papers in seven general topic areas, and looked at 45 informal papers. This was the first session of the new biennium. Changes to the UN Model Regulations agreed at all four sessions will form the basis for amendments to the 21st revised edition of the UN Model Regulations. Report on 51st Session of the UN Sub-Committee Meeting

TRACKING OF SECURITY-SENSITIVE HAZARDOUS MATERIALA house bill would remove a statutory limitation on the authority of DHS to issue rules for government controlled tracking of security-sensitive hazardous material (SSHM) shipments transported by motor carrier without first getting approval from Congress. This article suggests that may not be a good idea. Back to the Future – Truck Tracking

TRANSPORT CANADA ISSUES HARMONIZATION UPDATE TO TDG REGULATIONSTransport Canada has issued significant amendments to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations focused on harmonizing with international standards and reducing regulatory barriers to US-Canada cross-border trade. Changes include reciprocity provisions for the use and maintenance of pressure vessels and recognition of equivalency certificates and special permits. Transport Canada’s Regulations Amending the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (International Harmonization Update, 2016)

ARGUMENTS OVER WHO IS TO BE NAMED SHIPPER ON A DANGEROUS GOODS TRANSPORT DOCUMENT Fearing legal liability over possible failures in transportation, two companies disagree over which is to be named “shipper/consigner” on a transport document. When one company consigns drums of flammable liquid and contracts another company to load and secure the drums, as well as prepare the dangerous goods transport document, who is the shipper for transport by vessel?Who Is The Offeror For Transport By Vessel? The Performance of HazMat Pre-Transportation and Transportation Functions

REPORT ON THE ICAO DGP WORKING GROUP 2017The 2017 meeting of the Dangerous Goods Panel Working Group of the International Civil Aviation Organization was held April 24-28, 2017, in Montréal, Canada. Recommendations from this meeting and a prior WG meeting in October 2016, will be considered later this year in preparation of the 2019-2020 ICAO Technical Instructions. Report on ICAO Working Group 17

US DOT HAZMAT REPRESENTATION ON THE ICAO DANGEROUS GOODS PANELWhich modal administration should be entrusted to represent the interests of the United States on the Dangerous Goods Panel at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO-DGP)? This article explores the history and issues, including industry and government concerns. Speaking for You: U.S. HazMat Representation at ICAO

LOOKING AT COMMENTS TO PHMSA ANPRM ON VOLATILITY OF CLASS 3 MATERIALSAn advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), issued by PHMSA in January 2017 under docket HM-251D considers the need for revising the Hazardous Materials Regulations to establish vapor pressure limits for unrefined petroleum-based products, and potentially all Class 3 flammable liquid hazardous materials. Commenters voiced strong support and strong opposition to the ANPRM in comments which are reviewed in this article. Update and Summary on HM-251D Hazardous Materials: Volatility of Unrefined Petroleum Products and Class 3 Materials

COMMENTS ON DOT LETTERS OF INTERPRETATIONComments are provided on recent interpretations from DOT concerning shipping description for a flammable liquid reclassed as a combustible, packagings qualifying for the “USA” mark, and transport of Zone B TIH in a freight container. Comments on DOT Interpretations